Tarra Nieman, a 2020 NMU outdoor recreation leadership and management graduate, is the 2021 Community Volunteer Ambassador at Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Colorado. CVAs spend a year in national park units across the country building relationships with communities and increasing the number of volunteers who serve at the parks.

Instead of its usual in-person "Learning to Walk Together" powwow, the Native American Student Association at Northern Michigan University will host a virtual "Powwow 101: Learning to Walk Together (While Apart)." The free event is scheduled from 1-3 p.m. EST Saturday, April 3.

Northern Michigan University Alumni Relations is hosting virtual alumni socials for graduates to join college deans as they share new initiatives and other updates from the departments within their colleges. Following each update, alumni are invited to turn on their cameras and microphones to ask questions and connect with fellow Wildcats from their respective colleges.

Northern Michigan University alumna Rebecca Pelky ('98 BS, '15 MFA) has won the 2021 Perugia Press Prize for her story-in-poems called “Through a Red Place.” She weaves into the collection her research into her Native and non-Native heritage in Wisconsin using archival documents and images of her ancestors.

Northern Michigan University alumnus Mark Burton ('99 BS) has joined Honigman LLP as partner and co-leader of the firm's economic development incentives group. He  additionally serves in the government relations and regulatory practice and is based in Honigman's Lansing office, according to a press release. Burton most recently served as CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).